Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-09-01

volver, or the bowie knife. Why, sir,
I'll betchef the Cunnle's got not less
than two revolvers two bowie knives
on him right now. Such a man for
eeeretin' concealed weepins, and
a-hidin, oi EN- in a various manner all
over his person never did see, s'elp
KILLED many around herea" /
asked.
mo. Can't say he has. Bnt he
lett a reg lar graveyard out in Texas.
You see. he only came here some five
or SIX years ago to take the plantation,
when ais father died and left it to
him.. So he hasn't been here very
long"
"Is it true that he Is SO deeply in
That's nothin'," snorted Mr..
Duke. cts jest as he says. While
the people have confidence it's all
right. The Cunnle has been unlucky
in his speculations, and the keards al
ways go agin him, but what's the diff
ference? His words as good as bis
bond?"
| went to bed and dreamed that the
Colonel had been sued, and that he
had shot the plaintiff dead in the
courtroom, and had been serenaded
by his enthusiastic fellow citizens.
The next morning | had not been on
the piazza five minutes before Colonel
Arper made his appearance with sew
eral companions. They were fresh
from the bar, and had all been drink.
ing heavily.
As they passed me the Colonel spoke
in an angry tone to one of the party,
a stranger who had evidently just ar
rived.
IF your remark was PERSONAL" he
said, "In be blanked if don't"
Personal" answered the other quiz
city. Take it that way If 1t suits
you l am sure it is all the same to
me-"
The shock partly sobered Colonel
Arper. He Strengthened himself and
threw his hand back to his hip pocket.
For Gods sake" whispered Mr..
Duke to the stranger, take keer. The
Cinnle's wild this mornin'. He'll kill
you if You don't apologize"
"Ive sized him up" said the stran-
ger. Let him alone. / can clean
out a dozen like him."
Everybody fell back to give the swo
men a clear field.
Colonel Arper drew his pistol.
"Your hand is shaky," sneered the
other. go and take another drink"
Arpers face turned pale. Thestran-
ger looked at him with an air of cool
contempt, But only for a moment.
Before we could realize it, he walked
up to the colonel, snatched his pistol
from him, and then could we believe
our eyes he deliberately slapped the
desperate mans face, not once, but
twicei
Nor was this all. The cool stran-
ger threw the colonel's pistol at his
feet and walked off with an elastic
step down the street, wbistling as he
went.
Gentlemen" said the Colonel,
staring at us, "this means bioodl'
mo, it don't" said Zeb Duke. ''but
it means business. I've put up with
your airs long enough, you %trifiin',
cowardIy fraud. You Jest plank down
what you owe me and gitl'
"Why grear Goddlemighty, Zebp
"Will you pay up, Cunple2"
Arper muttered something about
the first OF the month. and without
another word sneaked off, leaving his
fellow-citizens looking at each other
in s~peeehless establishment.
! never saw a town so completely
torn up as Perdide was in the next
hall hour.
One feature of the business surpTis-
ed me beyond measure. Pedaer
brought six suits against Arper that
very day. All the merchants follow
ed. For a week it fairly raIned decla-
rations, bills in equity, attachments,
suits Tor damages, garnishments. etc.
The effects were far reaching. Men
whose sole claims to credit consisted
in certain bits of paper signed by Ar
per were sued right and left.
The place appeared to be in the
hands OF the sheriff. his deputies and
the bailitfs. As the panic spread, |
~aceidently detected Zeb Duke in the
act OF running of most of his liquor
and tobacco to hide them from his
creditors. Every stage brought mer-
chants and lawyers TO look after their
claims. 1t was evident that the Colo
nel's fall had hopelessly ruined the en-
tire town.
left before the trouble was over,
and left without seeing the Colonel.
1t was rumored at the time OF my de-
parture that he had slipped off to
Texas. At any rate he disappeared.
After the panic at Perdido it was not
safe for him to remain.